NHTSA Complaint #10582790 — 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT

A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT QUICKLY APPLIED THEIR BRAKES WHICH CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO QUICKLY APPLY HERS THUS CAUSING HER TO HIT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS IMMEDIATLY DEPLOYED. MY SON, WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, NOTICED WITHIN SECONDS OF THE CRASH THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. HE HAD TO QUICKLY UNHOOK BOTH HIS AND MY DAUGHTERS SEAT BELT SO THEY COULD EVACUATE THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE CABIN CAUGHT FIRE. ONCE MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO RELAX AND GATHER HERSELF AND TELL ME WHAT SHE HAD REMEMBERED ABOUT THE ACCIDENT, SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS STOPPING AS QUICKLY AS USUAL. I ASK HER IF SHE THOUGHT THAT THE CAR HAD STALLED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND SHE STATED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD FEEL LIKE TO HAVE A CAR STALL WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. I AM UNSURE AS TO, NUMBER ONE, WHY THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE IMMEDIATLY AFTER A 35MPH IMPACT AND TWO, WHY WAS IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR MY DAUGHTER TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP AT A TIME WHEN YOU NEED TO TRUST YOUR VEHICLE THE MOST???? *JS